Thaakirah Isaacs
Meet Thaakirah Isaacs: The Artist Behind Halo's Farm to Table Design
The Halo Dish Covers collection is a celebration of artistry, sustainability, and thoughtful design, and at the heart of the Farm to Table range is the creative mind of Thaakirah Isaacs. "My interpretation of the theme is freshness and health, as these are key elements of farm to table. It is about getting the freshest ingredients to your kitchen and then onto your plate." A passionate artist and designer, Thaakirah’s journey into the world of graphic design was filled with unexpected turns and inspiring moments. We caught up with her to learn more about her artistic process, inspirations, and dreams.
The Inspiration Behind Farm to Table
Thaakirah, a university student at CPUT never imagined that her design would be chosen for real-life products. We caught up with her in a recent interview to find out more about her creative process. When conceptualizing her Farm to Table Range Thaakirah said “I've always loved nature and was immediately drawn to organic shapes. I wanted to capture a rustic homegrown feeling within my designs and found inspiration in the contours and form of fruits and vegetables.”
The Creative Process
For Thaakirah, getting into the creative zone is all about setting the right atmosphere. “I create a comfortable space where I plan to work. Get a cup of coffee and put on some music or a YouTube video,” she explains. “Looking at beautiful art always inspires me and gets my creative energy going because I feel inspired to achieve the level of art I'm seeing.”
From Cape Town to Creative Dreams
Growing up in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, Thaakirah’s childhood aspirations ranged from graphic designer to comic book artist. “One of my earliest memories of what I’d like to be while growing up is of wanting to be a graphic designer (and also a comic book artist!),” she recalls. “It eventually changed to becoming an engineer as that was what I was guided towards in high school, but after a rough first year as an engineering student, that path was not for me. I switched to Visual Communication Design (which is just a fancy way of saying graphic design), and if it was not for that switch, I would not have gotten this opportunity to design for Halo!”
Creativity: Born or Built?
Thaakirah believes that creativity is a skill that can be developed rather than an innate talent. “We unfortunately live in a society that does not foster an environment for most to cultivate and grow this skill, so it can seem like something someone is just born with.” She credits years of drawing and making art as the reason she has been able to refine her skills.
A Career in Motion
With nearly three years of experience in graphic design and motion design animation, Thaakirah continues to hone her craft. “My dream job is to work as a character designer and concept artist in the video game or animation industry,” she shares. “If I could develop the skills, I would also love to work as an animator—2D or 3D—for film/TV as the type of animation work I do currently is more advertisement/commercial focused.”
Artistic Inspirations
Thaakirah finds inspiration in the media she enjoys. “Reading a good book or watching an amazing movie always fills me with motivation and energy to create a piece of art for what I just watched/read.” She also admires the works of the old masters, particularly J.C. Leyendecker. “Nature and architecture are definitely sources of inspiration as well.” Her designs often feature organic, natural shapes—flowers, trees, celestial elements like the moon, stars, and galaxies—recurring motifs in her work.
A Love for South Africa
“I love South Africa's diversity and sense of community,” she says simply.
Thaakirah Isaacs’ journey proves that opportunities arise when you pursue what you love. Through her Farm to Table design, she brings warmth, artistry, and sustainability to homes across the world, making everyday living a little more beautiful.